Phonograph.



v H. S. MILLS.

PHONOGRAPH.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 24, 1907.

943,31 3. Patented Dec. 14, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Q: E-I I -MTNESSES: YENTOR flM QWERBERT 5'. MILLS.

,BY I

V LR.JJ% I WVM ATTYS.

H. S. MILLS.

PHONOGRAPH.

APYLIGATION FILED AUG. 24, 1907.

Patented Dec. 14, 1909.

3 SHEETS- SHEET 2.

v VENTOR MTNE H. S. MILLS.

PHONOGRAPH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.24, 1907.

Patented De0.14,1909.

3 SHEETSSHBET 3.

TOR:

VWTNESSES HERBERT S. MILLS, OF CHICAGJ, ILLINOIS.

PHONOGRAPH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ele'c. id, 198%).

Application filed August 24, 1907. Serial No. 389,933.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT S. MILLS, a

- citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Im provement in Phonographs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in phonographs, and particularly to that class of phonographs which is intended for use in coin-controlled machines in which it is desired to repeat the record each time a coin is inserted in the machine.

My object is to provide a phonograph, of this class, of novel and .improved construc tion, and my invention constitutes an improvement on that described in my application No. 352,672, filed Jan. 17, 1907.

The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a frontelevational view of phonograph mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention, a dashpot or weight-guide employed being shown brokenly and moved from its proper position with relation to the otherparts of the mechanism; Fig. '2, a broken plan View showing the relation of the reproducer and a cam-roller carried thereby to a shiftable cam-equipped bar which serves in the operation of breaking the electric circuit of the motor employed and also in releasing the latch which permits a spring-actuated camcollar to-elevate the needle-holder to withdraw the needle from the record, the view a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the switch of the electric circuit closed; and Fig. 6, a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the shiftable bar mentioned in its shifted position and showing the needle withdrawn from the record. T

It maybestated preliminarily that in the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings power is transmitted from an electric motor through a power-transmission torsion-spring; as set forth in my aboveinentioncd application. In the preferred construction of the PIESGD! invention, when the motor-circuit is complei'oed, as may be accomplished by dropping a coin into the coin-chute, the motor operates, through the medium of the power-transmission coilspring, to actuate the record and the reproducerfeed-screw, causing the reproducer to traverse the record. The mechanism provided with a shiftable cam-retracted member which carries a cam which is actuated by a cam-roller mounted on the reproducer, when the reproducer completes its movement across the record, and said member serves to release a latch which normally locks the cam-collar which serves to move the needle-holder, said cam-collar being provided with an actuating spring which serves to turn it upon its axis when said latch is released. Said shiftable member operates, also, to actuate a switchretractin member which serves to break the circuit of the electric motor when said shiftable member is permitted to return, under the action of a strong spring with which it is provided, to its normal position. The shiftable member, or bar, when retracted, is locked in the retracted position by a springactuated member which moves into position between the shiftable member and an adjacent member of the frame when the member is. shifted; and the reproducer is equipped with an adjustable'member which serves to retract said barlocking member when the reproducer is returned to its starting.position. As will be understood from the description hereinafter given, I am able, by attaching simple parts to an ordinary phonograph, such as now can be obtained in the market, to provide for the automatic elevation. of the needle it'rom the record and the disconnection of the feed-screw clutch or nut from the feed-screw, maintaining said parts in this condition during the automatic return of the reproducer to the starting position, the breaking of the circuit of the electric motor employed "for driving the phonograph, and the automatic lowering of the needle and reengagement of the clutch with its feed-screw upon the return of the reproducer to its starting position.

In the construction illustrated, A representsaphonograph comprising the usual parts, namely a frame A, a record-carrier,

or mandrel, A fitted with a cylindrical rec- 0rd A, a reproducer-carrier A supporting a lever-form needle-holder A and equipped with a screw-clutch or nut A, a reproducercarrier feed-screw A contained within the reproducer-carrier guide A and geared-to the shaft of the record-carrier A in the usual manner, and a governor A" of well known construction; B, an electric motor having a circuit B fitted with contact-points B B, the latter of which is movable to ermit the circuit to be broken as indicated in Fig. 3; B, a shock-absorbing powertransmission torsion-spring actuated by a.

ca'm equipped switch actuated bar C ex-' tending parallel with and located in' frontof the reproducer-carrier guide, a pair of arms C supporting said bar and carried b pivots C, an arm 0 rigidly connected wit 1 one of the arms C, a spring C which tends to hold the bar C? in the position in which it is shown in Figs. 3 and 5, a switch-actuating Iink C pivotally connected with thearm G and connected therewith by a spring 0 a cam C adjustably connected with the bar G a' cam-collar latch (3 which normally engages a locking-lug C carried by the reproducer-carrier and serves to prevent rotation of the cam-collar which serves to elevate the needle-holder and release the clutch from the feed-screw, and a spring C whose function is to rotate said cam-collar when thelatch C is released by the forward shifting of the bar C C, a member movable to the right from. the position shown in 1 under the action of a spring Cfwhich becomes inter osed between the frame-member and the shi able bar C as shown in Fig.

when the bar is shifted toits forward position; C, an adjustable member serving to I return the member 0? to its'normal. position and permit the bar 0? to resume. its normal positlon when the reproducer returns to itsstarting position; and D, telescopic tubeconnections between the reproducer. vand the ear-trumpets gnot shown) The gra h illustrated is-well understood, and it wil beunnecessziry-to go into detail's, except as may be necessary to enable the description of the novetfeatures which have been added to be understood, The frame A has the usual standarda for supportin the rotaryrecord-carrier and the standards a in which the reproducer-guide is mounted and the feed-screw journaled;

Motion is communicated from the shaft of the record-carrier'by a train of. gears (not.

genera construction of the P110110.

shown) to the feed-screw A in the usual manner. The record A is the usual cylincollar is further equipped with an arm-a through the medium of which said collar may be turned upon its axis.

The motor B may be of any approved type ofjelectric motor, and may derive its .power from any suitable source. In the present instance, the contact members B B are leaf-springs equipped with contactpoints whichare adapted to bear against each other and close the circuit as indicated in Fig. 5, the member B being adapted to be withdrawn through the medium of the member C, as indicated in Fig. 3, thereby' breaking the circuit.

The shiftable bar C is adapted to swing about the axis formed by the pivots C". One of the arms C which carry the bar C is provided beneath its pivot with a lateral projection c to which is rigidly screwed arm 0, as by means of screws 0 The member C works in a slot 0 in the frame plate. The member C is connected with the arm CF by a pivot 05, and said member G is equipped with an insulation-member 0* providedwith a shoulder a. which is adapted to engage the leaf-spring B and retract the the same to break the circuit, as shown in Fig. 3; The member 0 is-adap'ted to be released from the member 13 by means of a coin which may be dropped through thecoin-chute 0 through a slot in which the member C extends. It will be understood that when the bar C ,is shifted forwardly by the reproduc'er, as the latter nears the: end of its traverse,the member C will be thrown rearwardly so. as to be in position to engage the member B"; and when the re-" producer returns to its starting osition andthe electric circuit. I

'The cam-collar C '1s mounted on a' member 0 (see Fig. 2) which is rigidly connectedwith the reproducer-carrier. I The member -c" is equipped with a downward Xten-J sion 0 lwithauwhich thelower end of the 5 ring Q is connected; The member is a equi pedwith athreaded stud c fwhich carries te-i adjustable member Cf, said member '0 being really a nut connected fwithisaid stud. Rigidly connected withthe airmZa? offthe cam-collar e isa-member 0? having an arm c 'adapted'to engage the bar C The upper end of the spring C is connected with the member 0 The member 0 has a portion a bent at right angles to over-lie the arm a of the cam-collar (1 said portion being screwed to said arm by the same screws 0 which serve to connect the two parts of the separable cam-collar. The

latch C is connected by a pivot 0 with the member 0". Said latch is provided with an arm 0 adapted to be engaged by the bar C standard a. of-the frame when the reproducer is returned'to its starting position, which is accomplished by a weight a which is connected by a cord 0 with the reproducer-carrier and which is movable in a guide or dash-pot 0 The member C which serves to lock the shiftable bar in its forward position is loosely connected with the bar C- will be permitted to return to its normal position when the reproducercarrier returns to its starting pos1t1on.- The member C is formed with shoulders 0 and 0 adapted, respectively, to engage the member C and the frame-member a.

. The reproducer is equipped with a short tube or horn d upon which is swiveled the short arm d of a metallic tube d which has the angular form shown in Fig. 3, it being understood that the right-hand portion of Fig. 3 is shown removed from its normal position. The main arm of the tube d normally :occupies an inclined position and is telescopically received by the inclined por-.

tion of a tube d? which has an upturned portion (1* whose upper end is formed with a flange d swiveled in a cup d? having a perforated bottom through which the vertical portion (1 of the. tube d extends. Swiveled in the cup d is a tube section at having a of the cabinet of the machine. Y iseetioii ll has a horn (i with which the circular groove d into which projects screws 'ZZ" which extend through the sides of the cup d. The cup d 'is supported by a framemember (2 which constitutes usually, a' part The tubeunion hose of the ear-trumpet tubes (not shown) is connected. It will be understood that as the reproducer-carrier moves, the upper portion of the telescopic tube which is composed of the members d cl turns within the cup (i while the lower end of said telescopic tube turns upon the horn or pivot d. The telescopic tube, of course, changes its length as the reproducer travels across the machine.

The operation'will be readily understood from the foregoing detailed description. The circuit B may be closed by depressing the rear'end of the member U, as by means of a coin, thus releasing the switch or springcontact member B Thereupon the motor will actuate the phonograph, causing the reproducer to be fed across the record in the usual way. When i the reproducer ap proaches the end of its operation, the camroller C engages the. cam C and shifts the bar C forwardly, whereby the-member C is thrust rearwardly. As the bar C is shifted forwardly, it engages the arm 0 of the latch C thereby releasing the latch from engagement with the locking-lug C and permitting the spring (1* to rotate the camcollar o and elevate the needle and release the feed-screw clutch. During the forward shifting of the bar C 'and before the release of the latch C, the locking-member C is permitted to enter between the frameanemher a and the bar C so that the bar C will be temporarily locked in its forward position. the action of the spring C", the arm 0. which is rigid with the cam-collar, is brought into engagement with the bar C \Vhen the feed-screw clutch is disengaged from the feed-screw, the weight 0 operates to return 105 the reproducer-carrier to its starting position, the member C is forced back to its normal position by the member C, thereby permitting the bar C to be thrown back to its normal position under the action of the 110 relatively strong spring C, which overpowers the spring C Thus, the'cam-collar a is rotated, through the medium of the arm a, back to its normal position, thereby throwing the feed-screw clutch into reengagement and lowering the needle upon the record. It will be observed that the starting position of the reproducer maybe regulated by adjusting the member C, which determines the time when the bar C shall be permitted to return to its normal position and permit the feed-screw clutch to reengage the: feed-screw. When the bar C -is drawn rearwardly under the action of the spring C the member 0 operates to separate the con- 2 tact-member B from the contact-member 13', thereby interrupting the electric circuit and stopping the motor.

It is noteworthy that the improved construction provides for the automatic return As the cam-collar a is rotated under 100 of the reproducer-carrier to its starting position by a very simple expedient, whereby the v 1. The combination with a phonograph having a record-carrier, a reproducer-carrier and a feed-screw'for the reproducer-carrier,

: of a follower for said screw, a follower-reby said Iepr'oducer and adapted to release tracting member, a spring tending to move saidfollowerrretraeting member, latchingmeans for the follower-retracting member, a latch-releasing member actuated by the reproducer as the reproducer nears the end of its traverse, means for locking said latch-.

releasing member,-and means carried by the reproducer for releasing said latch-releasing I [member as the 'reproducer returns to its" starting position.

2. The combination with a phonograph having a record-carrier, a reproducer-carrier and a feed-screw for the 'reproducer-car rier, of a follower for said screw, a rotary cam for retracting said follower, yielding means tending to rotate said cam to retract said follower, locking+means for said rotary cam, a'cam-equipped shiftable bar actuated said locking-means, means for locking said bar-in its shifted position, rand-means carried by therepgoducer for releasing said last-named locking-means when the repro ducer-carrier resumes its starting position.

3.- The combination'witb a phonograph, of means for throwing the follower of the feed-screwinto and out of-engagement withthe feed-screw, comprising a shiftable mem 'ber actuated by the 'reproducer as. it nears f'o'fle. end of its traverse, a locking-member so for said shiftable member, and adjustable means carried by the'reproducer and serving to disengage said locking-member as the reproducer approaches the other end of its traverse.

4. The combination with a reproducer carrier of a phonograph and its feed-screw,

'of a-rotary cam, 11 frglower' for saidffeed screw retracted by sai ream, av spring tending to rotate said team, a slnftable bar equipped WlthB- GMU actuated by the reproducer-carrier, ,an arm on the rotary cam adapted foi be engaged by mid bar to re J store the cdnito its normal position, means for lockmgdhemm: in its normal position. Y a

"position in another and.

5. The combination with a reproducercarrier of a phonograph and its feed-screw, of a rotary cam, a follower for said feedscrew retracted by said cam, a spring tending to rotate said cam, a latch connected with said cam and engaging the reproducercarrier, an arm connected with said cam, a shifta-ble bar adapted to be actuated by the reproducer-carrier and serving to release said latch in one position of the reproducercarrier and to restore said cam to its normal osition in another position of the reproucer-carrier, means for locking said bar in its shifted position, and means carried by the reproducer for releasing said bar.

6. The combination with a phonograph having a record-carrier and a reproducercarrier, of an electric motor serving to operate the phonograph, said motor having a switch, a feed-screw, a follower for the feed-screw, a-rotary cam serving to retract the feed-screw, the follower and the needleholder of ther'eproducer, a latch adapted.

to lock said rotary cam, a shiftable bar actuated by'the rep tion and serving spring serving and circuit-controlling means controlled by to release said latch, a

reducer-carrier in one direcu to retract said shiftable bar,

said shiftablebar, for the purpose set'forth.

- -7. The combination with a reproducercarrier, its feed-screw, and a follower for the feed-screw, of a rotary cam serving to retract the follower, a spring tending to ro- 'tate said cam, a latch for said cam, a shiftable bar serving to release said latch when shifted in one direction and to return said.

rotary cam to its normal position when shifted in the other direction, cams on said bar and reproducer, whereby said bar is shifted in one direction, and a spring serving to restore said bar to its normal position.

-8. The combination with a reproducercarrier of a phonograph and its feed-screw, of a rotary cam, a follower for said feed- ,screw retracted by said cam, a spring .tending tov rotate said cam, a latch connectedwith said cam and engaging the reproducercarrier, an arm connected with said can a shiftable bar adapted to be actuated by the reproducer carricr and serving to release said latch in one position of the reproducercarrier and to restore said'cam to its norms. position of the reproducer-carrier, means for locking said bar. in

its shifted position, and-means carried by the reproducer for releasing said bar.

The combination with a phono aph having a record-carrier and a repro necrcarrier,'of an electric motor serving toop era-te the phonograph, saidmotor having a switch, a feed-screw,a follower for thefeedscrew, a rotary cam servingto. retract the feed-' screw, the follower the needleholder-oif the reprodncsr, a latch adapted to race said rotary cam, a shiitabie bar actuated by the reproducer-carrier in one direction and serving to release said latch, a

. spring serving to retract said shiftable bar,

and circuit-controlling means controlled by said shiftablebar, for the purpose set forth.

1.0. The combination with a reproducercarrier of a phonograph, of a bent tube- I section having an arm swiveled on the horn of the reproducer-carrier, a bent tube section telescopically connected with said first-named 10 tube-section, a cup having swiveled connection with said sccond-named tube-section, and a tube-section reinovably connected w th 

